Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-12-29

He entered the study and found his fathe
there talking with the nurse who seemed +
hide something under her apron.
Egbert smiled {. little contemptuously a
he at once understood that it had somethiny
to do with New Year's-sole new gift.
Father said he, ''were you thinking o
giving me anything Tomorrow"
"Why, yes. 1t is New Years, and you
birthday. Is there anything you would ill,
to have particularly:n
Egbert hesitated and grew red.
"Father, [ don't know as / could, but if ]
could have one, / should like to have 6
mother
If a knife had pierced that fathers heart
he could not have grown more pale than did
Mr.. Fallon when his boy stammered out that
pathetic request.
He groaned in agony as he staggered for
ward and stretched his arms across the table,
and hid his face upon them, while he trembled
in every limb
Egbert came close to his father wonder
| lngly, but he could not understand this sud-
den display of emotion, and he laid the port
folio down on the table with the picture and
finally seeing that his father seemed so
grieved, he put out his hand instinctively,
and tried to caress his fathers hair, as he had
seen that poor woman do
This light touch brought Mr. Fallon's mind
back to his child and he slowly lifted his
face from the table, and then drew the boy
to his knee, a very unusual demonstration for
him to make
| ''What made you ask that question, Egbert.
| Who has been talking to you."
mo one, father, only L saw that poor
| children had mothers and today l somehow
| felt that if | had a mother of my very own,
should feel SO contented and happy, and |
felt, too, that | had always wanted one, only
l never knew it until today, and l thought
you could get me one, perhaps, instead of any
play toys. | am tired of all kinds of toys
and when | saw that boys mother love him
so tenderly. made up my mind to ask you.
| should love you just the same. Father,
why is it l have no mother, or don't rich
people have them!'
''My boy, l have tried to keep this sorrow
from you, and to so fill mothers place that
you would never miss her, but it is useless.
Nature has spoken. You had mother once,
but-you have none now. You can never
have another"
''But where is she father Is she dead?n
eyes, child dead to us ALL"
But when did she die!"
'Eight years ago, Egbert. Now, my boy,
listen. You must not speak of her again,
never, never. | cannot bear it, to me nor to
any one else. You must think no more about
it, and be as happy as you can with me. Am
| not good to your
''Oh, yes, and L will try" said the boy, try
ing to struggle against the tears; and then
he rose and went out of the study and up to
his room, where he went to bed to think and
try to understand this first sorrow and first
mystery of his young life.
Mr.. Fallon remained in his study prey to
violent emotion.
This child, whom he had surrounded with
such tenderness. and who had all that was
left of his broken heart, found that not
enough and his innocent nature cried out
for mother love, not even knowing what it
was
And that mother, weak, unworthy, sinful
and abandoned what did she care if the little |
heart broke for want of a mothers tender |
care?
Hot tears forced themselves through his |
eyelids, and sobs racled his breast as he
thought it all over.
He had taken his young bride to his heart
and home, with pride and love, deep and
true, and in two short years she had proved
of his name.
Even while her first born lay upon her
breast she was a guilty wretch, and then,
when his cousin had discovered all the wrong,
and had proved it to him, she dared deny it
and so make it all the deeper
Then he had driven her forth, torn from
her false arms the pretty baby, and she had
gone out of his home and life forever, leav-
ng the blight of her sin upon them BOTH
Then he had made a recluse of himself for
he sake of his child and had tried to so fill
his little heart that it should never need an
,ther love, and yet that little heart missed
omething. All, well, he would have to know
some day. Perhaps it was best that he learn
t now, while too young to understand
The sweet, innocent face that she had,
low could guilt have lodged in that hearts
How could she have sacrificed husband,
hid, good name, all:
Yet she did. The proofs were too strong
or doubt.
Those letters, their touch withered his
cart and life at once, eight years ago when
Amy was driven forth wanderer and an
utcast, weeping and declaring her innocence
0 the last, in spite of the proofs in his pos
ession.
ONE to ber parents, and they had sheltered
er.
They believed in her innocence. Well.
he was their child, and they ought to be-
eve her.
''Oh, Amy, little Amy, 1 loved you SOP he =
Il could love you now, God
clip mel believe 1 DO yet, in spite of all, :
nd L forgive you, for you were SO youngw